BEIRUT

The death toll from brutal Israeli airstrikes Thursday on six towns in the Baalbek district of eastern Lebanon has soared to 47, with 22 injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported.​​​​​​​

The strikes occurred on day 22 of Israel’s offensive in Baalbek in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate. The area is widely regarded as a key stronghold of Hezbollah, with significant support and influence.

Baalbek-Hermel Gov. Bachir Khodr wrote on X that the district experienced a "very violent day.”

"The number of martyrs has so far reached 47, with 22 injured,” he wrote.

Efforts to remove rubble are ongoing in search of the missing, he added.

Warplanes targeted Nabha, killing eight, and Makneh, where six fatalities were reported. In Flawiye, four were killed and three injured, according to a statement by the ministry.

Two additional strikes killed two people and injured three in Brital, while another in the town of Aamachki left two dead and as many wounded.

Lebanon’s official news agency, NNA, said an airstrike on Souaneh killed one person and injured two, while another attack on Younine claimed four lives.

The six fatalities in Makneh included a father, mother and their four children, according to the agency.

The escalation comes hours after US envoy Amos Hochstein left Beirut for Tel Aviv after negotiations on an American proposal for a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanese resistance group.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would conduct the negotiations “under fire.

Israel has engaged in cross-border warfare with Lebanon, launching an air campaign in late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets.

Nearly 3,600 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon, with more than 5,000 injured and over 1 million displaced since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio and Rania Abu Shamala